Five Days That Sparked New Confidence for Girls in Gombe
In many rural communities, a girl’s day can begin long before school starts. Some wake up already carrying responsibilities that are far bigger than their age. For girls in Mallam Jamo and Gamadadi, one of those burdens is Barema (farm labour), a reality that can take time, strength, and focus away from education.
This is why Adda Girl Education Foundation (ADDA) is implementing the Girl Led Advocacy Project, supported through a grant secured from the Development Exchange Centre (DEC) with funding support from Bread for the World (Germany). The mission is simple, but powerful: to strengthen girls’ voices, protect their rights, and support communities to reduce Barema so girls can stay in school and thrive.
And for ADDA, change had to start where transformation always begins, with girls building confidence, skills, and safe spaces to lead.
A Safe Space Created for Girls to Learn and Lead
From 3 November 2025 to 7 November 2025, ADDA hosted a five-day core leadership and advocacy training at the ADDA office in Gombe, bringing together 20 in schoolgirls for an experience designed to go beyond classroom learning.
The theme guided the entire training: “Empowering girls for leadership and social change.”
For five days, the room became more than a training space. It became a place where girls could speak freely, ask questions without fear, learn from one another, and begin to see themselves differently. Not just as students, but as leaders and advocates.
Not Just Teaching, But Building Confidence
Each day blended learning with participation. Girls were encouraged to talk, reflect, practise, and engage through interactive sessions that included presentations, group discussions, role plays, team activities, and question and answer sessions.
The training covered key areas that directly support girl-led advocacy and wellbeing, including:
- Leadership development
- Advocacy skills
- Public speaking and confidence building
- Life skills development
- Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
- Gender based violence (GBV) prevention
These were not just topics on schedule. They were conversations that helped girls name what they experience, understand their rights, and learn how to communicate clearly and confidently.
When Girls Begin to Shape the Message
One of the most inspiring moments came when the girls were grouped into three teams and asked to create their own advocacy messages focused on reducing Barema in their communities.
The room shifted. Girls moved from learning about advocacy to practising it. They brainstormed, spoke up, listened to each other, refined ideas, and presented messages that reflected real community life and the hopes they carry for a different future.
Their messages were collected for further editing and strengthening, forming an early foundation for what girls will continue to use as they advocate within their schools and communities.
A Skill for Creativity and Resilience
The training also included a hands-on skill session where girls learned to make rug carpets and decorations. It was practical, creative, and empowering, offering girls an additional skill that can build resilience and confidence beyond the classroom.
The Quiet Transformation by Day Five
By the end of the training, something had changed. You could hear it in the way girls spoke. You could see it in the way they stood. There was more confidence, stronger participation, and a clearer understanding of what it means to lead.
The girls left with strengthened capacity in advocacy, public speaking, leadership, SRHR knowledge, GBV prevention awareness, and life skills. But beyond technical learning, the training reinforced an important truth: girls in rural communities have the same potential as girls anywhere. What they often need is opportunity, support, and a safe platform to grow.
Support That Made Participation Possible
ADDA also recognized that girls’ participation is strongest when families and schools feel safe and included. The Foundation worked with relevant authorities, secured required permissions, ensured parental consent, and arranged for teacher support so the girls could attend daily throughout the training.
Sessions were delivered in Hausa and English to ensure understanding and meaningful participation for everyone.
What Comes Next
This five-day training was designed as a starting point, not a one-off event. Next steps include structured follow up through peer learning and ongoing mentorship. ADDA will also work toward strengthening school-based support, including plans to establish a club structure and connect in-school girls with Barema girls for shared learning and encouragement.
Standing With Girls as They Lead
For ADDA, this training was more than a programme activity. It was the beginning of girl-led change. A moment where girls were reminded that their voices matter and that they can be part of shifting the story in their communities.
With continued support from DEC and Bread for the World (Germany), ADDA remains committed to building safer spaces, stronger voices, and better futures for girls in Gombe State in particular, and Northeast in general.